The cast of The Rookie is changing once again as the show heads into its seventh season, and while it will be difficult to say goodbye to Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen, one tidbit about the upcoming episodes eases the frustration. Valentino is exiting The Rookie ahead of season 7, meaning the season 6 finale was his last episode. According to TV Insider, the actor addressed his departure on his Instagram Stories. Valentino said, “I will always cherish my time on The Rookie but couldn’t be more excited for what the future has in store.”
Tru Valentino left the door open for him to reprise his role as Aaron in future episodes of The Rookie by writing, “You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire Precinct,” in his Instagram Stories.
Aaron was introduced in The Rookie season 4 after Titus Makin Jr’s Jackson West died. Although it would have been difficult for anyone to replace Jackson, Aaron’s unique story and inviting personality were easy to warm up to. Valentino’s character began as a rookie police officer under Nyla Harper’s guidance, and he quickly proved his worth. Aaron expressed interest in becoming a detective in recent seasons, so, that might be how his character is written out of The Rookie. Nevertheless, fans must look to the future, and one update suggests that Aaron’s exit won’t be so bad.
Why Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen Leaving The Rookie Is Disappointing
Aaron Was A Welcome Addition After Jackson’s Exit
Of course, first and foremost, it was disappointing to learn that Tru Valentino wouldn’t be reprising his role as Aaron in the cast of The Rookie season 7. Over the course of his three seasons on the ABC police procedural series, Aaron was a welcome addition to the squad. He brought something new to the story, with his lighthearted, fun personality, and eagerness to do well at Mid-Wilshire.
| The Rookie Season 7 Cast | Character |
|---|---|
| Nathan Fillion | John Nolan |
| Richard T. Jones | Wade Grey |
| Alyssa Diaz | Angela Lopez |
| Eric Winter | Tim Bradford |
| Melissa O’Neil | Lucy Chen |
| Mekia Cox | Nyla Harper |
| Shawn Ashmore | Wesley Evers |
| Jenna Dewan | Bailey Nune |
| Tru Valentino | Aaron Thorsen |
| Lisseth Chavez | Celina Juarez |
| Deric Augustine | Miles |
| Patrick Kelehe | Seth |
Aaron was a likable character who was quite difficult to hate, even for those heartbroken over Jackson’s death in The Rookie season 4. Over time, Aaron integrated smoothly into the cast, making it feel as if he had been on the TV show since the beginning. Plus, Aaron’s backstory of being accused of murdering his roommate was a compelling storyline. However, The Rookie season 7 is losing a main cast member, and the show must go on.
The Rookie Season 7’s New Cast Members Could Make Up For Valentino’s Exit
Deric Augustine & Patrick Kelehe Are Joining The Rookie Cast
The Rookie season 7 has already found its replacement(s) for Aaron, and they could soften the blow of Tru Valentino’s exit. Instead of bringing in one character to fill the hole left by Aaron, the show will introduce two in the upcoming episodes. Deric Augustine and Patrick Kelehe will join the cast as Miles and Seth, respectively, two new rookies at Mid-Wilshire. The Rookie season 7’s first footage reveals that Tim Bradford is already chastising them in the locker room, meaning Miles and Seth should fit right in at the station.
